Insulating fabric



F. A. GILCREST.

INSULATING FABRIC.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 25.1919.

Fig.1-

Patented Mar. 15, 1921.

Fran/1; (A fiz'lc 'e [I i UNITED STATES A. GILGREST, OF PASADENA, CALIFORNIA.

INSULATING snare.

T 0 all whom it may concern J Be it known that I, FRANK A. Ginonns'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pasadena, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented certaln new and useful Improvements in Insulatmg Fabrics; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptlon ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertams to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to insulating fabric more particularly adapted for use in the construction-of wearing apparel, blankets, automobile hood covers, and the like.

The object is to provide a fabric embodying a structure for retaining a quantity of infusorial earth or similar substance in flat spread condition throughout thepextentof the fabric to impart the desired insulating qualities to the fabric against the passage of heat, vibration and the like.

With these and further objects in view as will in part hereinafter become apparent and in part be stated, the invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts as subsequently specified and claimed,

In the accompanying drawing,-

Figure l is a diagrammatic plan view of a portion of fabric constructed according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail edge view of a strip folded and stitched for application to the body sheet of the fabric to form the pockets thereon.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional perspective taken through the fabric on the plane indicated by line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, the body of the fabric iscomposed of flexible material, and, in the present instance, comprises a body sheet 10 of any standard width to which are stitched strips 11. The strips 11 are-relatively narrow and long and are formed with transversely extending tucks 12 at preferably equi-distantly spaced-apart points throughout the length of the strip. The tucks are secured in the strip by lines of stitching l3 and form partitions dividing Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 25,

Patented Mar. 15; 1921.

1919. Serial 1%. 313,243.

the tucked side of the strip' into a plurality The tucks'12 free edges by lines of stitching 14 to one face of the body sheet 10. The upper side of the tu'ck constitutes one edge portion of the adjacent pocket, while the lower side of the tuck constitutes the underlying edge portion of the adjacent pocket. As shown in Fig. 3, the pockets or compartments are arranged in slightly overlapping relation to form a flexible body portion of uniform thickness throughout its extent. The longitudinal edges of the strips ll are preferably overlapped and secured together by lines of stitching 15 to secure the strips to the body sheet 10 and close the ends of the pockets of the several rows.

The pockets or compartments thus formed are filled with infusorial earth, or other like substance, to render the fabric this constructed impervious to temperature changes,

, vibration, and the like, and to impart a body and thickness to the fabric. In filling the pockets, the strip 11 at one edge portion of the sheet 10 is first filled, the second strip 11 is then placed with its longitudinal edge in underlapping relation with respect to the free edge of the first strip, and the overlapping edges of the adjacent strips are secured to the sheet 10 by the line of stitching 15. The pockets in the second strip are now filled and the third strip is'a plied to the sheet 10 in the above describe manner for closing the second row of pockets and closing the inner ends of the .third row of pockets. Fabric thusiconstructed contains a plurality of adjacent pockets which overlap at their lateral edges and which lie close together at their opposite ends.

The fabric is adapted to be used in making up helmets and articles of clothing particularly for aviators and soldiers to protect bination, of a. body sheet, strips secured at tween the strips and the sheet,- and :1 filler .lo opp0s1teends to the body sheet andflhavlng of infusorial earth packed in said pockets. thelr ad acent longltudlnal edges overlap- In testimony whereof I affix my signature pmg and st1tched to the body sheet, said in presence of two witnesses;

5 strips having transverse tucks spaced apart I throughout the lengths of the strips and se- FRANK GILCREST- cured at their free edge portions laterally Witnesses: against the body sheet beneath the strips to JOHN S. TANNER,

form overlapping, independent pockets be- C. C. MESSICK. 

